Naga People’s Front hope for early Naga solution

Kohima, Nov. 29: The Naga People’s Front (NPF) expressed hope for an early solution to the vexed Naga political problem while iterating its stand on the integration of the Naga areas.

Speaking at the party’s general convention at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Nagaland Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang said 17 years of peace talks between the Centre and the NSCN (I-M) are too long and that the Centre has set a time frame to resolve the issue.

Zeliang said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state would send a positive signal to the people and urged the Naga factions to come together and pursue a solution. The chief minister said the Centre is strong and the BJP-led NDA government is committed to resolve the issue. He urged partymen and those in the government to facilitate the peace process.

He said the government would make another effort to revamp the Joint Legislators’ Forum (JLF). “I also request our MPs to raise the issue in Parliament,” he said.

Former chief minister and Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio said the BJP-led government is strong and can take any decision to solve the Naga issue. He insisted that Naga people must remain united to accept the solution. He also asked the state government to make all efforts and not merely pay lip service.

“We all should remain united and prepare for a groundwork to accept the solution,” he added. Rio said the NPF had already started the process of political integration while pursuing integration of Naga-inhabited areas. The Assembly had passed four resolutions on integration of Naga areas, he said, adding that 16-point Agreement of 1960 had clearly mentioned about Naga integration.

Party president Shurhozelie Liezietsu said piecemeal solutions to the Naga political problem is out of question, adding that there can be only one solution to the problem.